52 replies to this topic

[Tex Arcana]

I think the endo steel messed me up.
I have
7 Sm. lase
2 med pulse
Endo Steel
245 Engine
17 DHS
Maximum Armour.
I can't fit anything more. And my tonnage is only 45.6
I guess the Endo Steel has to go?

[Elizander]

Tex Arcana, on 05 December 2012 - 07:33 AM, said:

I think the endo steel messed me up.
I have
7 Sm. lase
2 med pulse
Endo Steel
245 Engine
17 DHS
Maximum Armour.
I can't fit anything more. And my tonnage is only 45.6
I guess the Endo Steel has to go?

You can consider upgrading your engine or turning your small lasers into Small Pulse lasers? That might work.

260 engines weigh 2.5 tons more (shave some armor that leaves you with 2 tons left). One heat sink will go into the engine giving you a bit more space to get another one, leaving you with 1 ton left. Upgrade 2 lasers to medium or pulse?

Edited by Elizander, 05 December 2012 - 08:06 AM.

[toxx1790]

I run my 4P with 8 MLs split into two fire groups. A standard 260 engine, dual heat sinks and endosteel.

With speed tweak it does 84.2 kph and with a heat efficiency of 1.08 I don't have a real problem with overheating.

[Tex Arcana]

Elizander, on 05 December 2012 - 08:04 AM, said:

You can consider upgrading your engine or turning your small lasers into Small Pulse lasers? That might work.

260 engines weigh 2.5 tons more (shave some armor that leaves you with 2 tons left). One heat sink will go into the engine giving you a bit more space to get another one, leaving you with 1 ton left. Upgrade 2 lasers to medium or pulse?

I'm going to fiddle with the smalls a little.
I just bought the 245. So I'm stuck with it for a little while.
I'm grinding for HBK Mastery; The "Jack"/J Model is my third one.
Thanks for the input though.

[Tex Arcana]

I reverted to Standard Internal.
Wasted the cash on the Endo Steel; but it's all about learning the ropes...
Present loadout is a little more expensive to repair than the original; but it hits hard.
245 engine
5 Small Laser
3 Med. Laser
I Med. Pulse Laser (tied to same group as the smalls).
AMS
18 DHS
317/338 Standard Armour.
I think I will go to the 260 engine at some point; but this loadout is pretty sweet.
I would point out that I wasted credits getting to this: Anyone reading this thread should avoid adding Endo Steel until they are sure of their loadout.
You really don't need it to pack a big punch.

Edited by Tex Arcana, 05 December 2012 - 06:30 PM.

[MingTheMerciless]

Have to admit, this mech set-up is great. Just need to keep moving and the x7 SML makes a mess of most things. Just move and shoot. Love it.

[Black Alexidor]

After having played the HBK's since closed beta and mastering them again in open beta I have been through most builds. 7small lasers was pretty damn good but it lacked that essential 270m range.

To make a long story short I am currently running:

S250 (w/speed tweak 89.1)
19 DHS (10 in engine)
320 Armor
AMS

3 ML (1 head / 1 each arm) used together when poke is needed, in close combat I just the 2 arm MLs for heat reasons
6 SL (in hunch)

No endo so I can fit those extra DHS.

1.32 heat efficiency (1.42 if you only use the head laser to poke or when you lose an arm) you may think this is TOO heat efficient, and I say, the longer I can be dishing out damage, the better.

If you are pairing with a LRM boat or jsut a real team player replace one of the arm MLs with a TAG.

Learn to leg people and you will have a fun time on the battlefield. (this applies to any fast laser boat)

Edited by Black Alexidor, 03 February 2013 - 06:07 PM.

[DrBlue62]

Standard 260
Endo steel
DHS 8 Externals
9 mediums lasers
Full armor.
.4 tons light.


I don't really get these small laser builds, up close basically melee fighting is dangerous for a hunchback to partake against a game where SRM Cats, Atlai, Stalkers can ruin their day with one good hit. I suppose I prefer to keep my distance and strafe from a decent distance away, it also allows me time to cool down if need be.

[Ravennus]

DrBlue62, on 03 February 2013 - 08:28 PM, said:

Standard 260
Endo steel
DHS 8 Externals
9 mediums lasers
Full armor.
.4 tons light.


I don't really get these small laser builds, up close basically melee fighting is dangerous for a hunchback to partake against a game where SRM Cats, Atlai, Stalkers can ruin their day with one good hit. I suppose I prefer to keep my distance and strafe from a decent distance away, it also allows me time to cool down if need be.

I've tried both, and I'm very tempted to buy a second 4P just because they are both effective in different ways.

My 4P build has 20 DHS and just never overheats, and eats mechs on Caustic. HBK-4P "Slicer"
It is the DPS brawler build because you just don't stop shooting and slice apart mechs like a nasty surgeon with a scalpel.
You need to get close, yes... but a full speed Hunchback is a lot more durable than people give it credit for, especially after you learn to torso twist to spread damage.
You are also a lot more maneuverable than any Assault. I LOVE finding a lone Stalker in this build, because he just won't be able to leverage his arsenal and I pick him apart very quickly.
SRM cats are nasty up close (to anyone), but just don't let them sneak up on you. Identify them, stay at range with your 2 arm MLAS and pick at the ears. You are faster, and once they change targets to someone else they are YOURS.

Remember, with 7 SLAS you are doing 21 damage... but with a shorter .75 beam duration and a much faster 2.25 second recharge. You DPS is substantial and it is VERY heat efficient.

Incidentally, this is a great light killer. Very easy to leg a mech with this build, and even if you miss a few alphas you won't over heat.



The MLAS build is really Heavy Artillery and Support. My build... HBK-4P "Dicer"

The damage you do is amazing, no doubt. You can also do it at longer range.
With my build, you also have an excellent top speed and maneuverability.
But heat is often your worst enemy.

With all the heat perks, I can fire a 7 MLAS alpha for about 40% heat.
Throw in the 2 arm MPLAS for about 50% for a full alpha.... that's 47 points of pinpoint damage.

But the problem starts when you get locked into a brawl, especially with another reasonably fast mech that won't let you run away to cool off.
Essentially, every shot you make has to count or else you are wasting a LOT of DPS due to heat problems.

Of course, with a good pilot this build really shines, especially if you are supporting others mechs which take the focus away from you.
But you need to be a really good shot with this mech, and be able to keep those lasers on target for the FULL 1 second it takes to deliver the damage. You can't sweep targets, or you do less damage than the 7 SLAS.
Also, have a 3rd weapon grouping for the 7 MLAS for chainfiring. Don't waste a full alpha on a heavily damaged mech.... use your two MPLAS and just shoot a constant stream from the MLAS chainfire.

I also like the MPLAS in the arms. They are great finishers and awesome for tracking fast lights. They also crit better than normal lasers.

My god though.... the 7 MLAS. If you are a good pilot this is an amazing mech to melt cockpits with.




Anyway, like I said.... I love them both.

Edited by Ravennus, 04 February 2013 - 12:27 AM.

[CECILOFS]

Ravennus, on 04 February 2013 - 12:21 AM, said:

It is the DPS brawler build because you just don't stop shooting and slice apart mechs like a nasty surgeon with a scalpel.

Remember, with 7 SLAS you are doing 21 damage... but with a shorter .75 beam duration and a much faster 2.25 second recharge. You DPS is substantial and it is VERY heat efficient.

Agreed.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...cde6244cb03f425

As posted in the other Hunchback thread.

The point of SL is that they are the most efficient weapon in the game. 3 damage for 2 heat = 1dps for 0.66 heat/s or ~1.5 dps/hps. Compare to LL 1.3dps/hps or ML 1.25dps/hps.

When you factor in crits and tonnage, the SL become comparitively more efficient. That doesn't mean they are all-round better though - the other lasers have higher dam/dps per laser at the cost of more weight.

3 SL deal the same damage (9) as 1 Large Laser, have higher DPS, weigh less, generate less heat but take 1 extra crit slot. So at 90m range, assuming you have the crit slots (which the 4P does), 3SL > 1LL.

I would run it with 9xSL but you end up with an awkward extra ton with nowhere to go and the 2xML on the arms helps to give it some reach.

IMO the 4P is like the break-point in weight class for boating SL. Most lighter mechs can't have enough lasers or heat sinks (6xSL Jenners being the exception), anything bigger probably wants harder hitting lasers (Though 6xSL on a LRM boat Stalker is kinda funny too). The 4P is small and fast enough to be able to maintain highly efficient DPS at close range. If you are skilled you can do it without dying.

Edited by CECILOFS, 04 February 2013 - 01:43 AM.

[MingTheMerciless]

Also found that you need to move, move and move some more. Even if you're getting hammered on all sides, one must resist the temptation to slug it out; concentrate on driving your mech out of there and into some cover. Take a few hits to the back as you do so. The bigger hitters will (usually) not chase you and will instead focus on the other slower, closer targets. Light mechs will probably chase you but you have a better chance at dealing with a Raven, Commando or Jenner..providing your weapons are still intact!

I have survived matches where I have been inside a cross fire between a couple of assaults. Managed to hit 81 kph and **** and returned to the fight and got plenty of assists.

[MasterBLB]

When designing a HBK 4P the first,must-have item is engine at least 250,as it contains 10 true double heatsinks.That's absolute base in my opinion.
2nd,endo-steel does not fit in this build,as it takes valuable critical slots what could be used for dhs.
3rd,that's personal preferrences,but after few tries I found medium lasers > small lasers.Though they don't shoot as often as the small ones,much greater range and lesser overall heat generation makes them superior.

Generally,4P can be set up as either brawler or ambusher.
HBK-4P - Brawler
This build is enough heat efficient to fight constantly - the key is to group 4 lasers in hunch in 2 groups - one alpha and one chain fire,used when heat is too high.Alpha makes you have in fact a power equal to AC20,but without ammo requirement.

HBK-4P - Ambusher
Opposite to brawler,this build is too hot to participate in brawls.Instead,you should wait hidden behind building or such and suprisingly attack weakened targets from behind using your alpha.45 damage in back armor is something even an atlas has to watch out.As in above build,group all lasers in hunch in one group (that gives you a power of double gauss) and 4 of them in chain fire,used when heat is too high.

I personally preffer the 1st build,it preforms as ambusher well enough but opposite to the 2nd one it can brawl without much risk of overheating.

Edited by MasterBLB, 05 February 2013 - 03:43 AM.

[Wittyname Terribad]

I have 2 builds for my 4p

Troll build-
260 std
Double heat sinks
Endo
9x flamers

Hilarious is a premade, let teammates engage, rush in at a 45* angle, full targets' view screen with fire. Many pilots will just stop for a couple seconds while they figure out what's going on

Serious build
260 std
Double heat sinks
Endo
1x large laser
5x medium lasers, 4 in the hunch on in the head

Have found this to be a really fun solo drop supporter, I'll follow an atlas or stalker around and guard his back. The LL lets me still pick up a ton of assists and all the MLs are great for legging lights